Animal-trap.



F. KUNKEL.

ANIMAL TRAP, APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19 1906.

PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

W1 TNESSES:

6 5o 00 p B 6 o o d 16 Invenior. erdz'lmrzdlfzzzziwl a'rnnr FERDINAND KUNKEL, or ooNooRnrA, KANSAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed July 19,1906. Serial No. 326.901.

To (all rrlmm it may concern:

Be it known that I ,VFERDINAND KUNKEL, a (itizen of the United States, residing at Concordia, in the (ounty of Cloud and State of Kansas, have inventcxl a new and useful AUiIIlfll-dlltfl), of which the followingis specific atio n This invention relates to animal-traps. The objects of the invention are to improve and simplify t he construction of such devices;

furtherim)m, to increase their elliciency in operation and to decrease the expense attending their marmfacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the iiwention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and inthe details of eonstrurtion hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodinu-uit of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without depart- .lng from the'spirit of the invention or sacri- 1h ing any of its advantages. I

in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this spediiration. Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved trap with the cover shown by dotted lines in opened position. Fig. .2 is a vertical longitudinal sect-i on. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section.

Like referenee-numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

Broadlv stated, the improved trap of this inventioi comprises, preferably, a lower compartmen t, an upper compartment having an entrance-opening, a'tilting platform, a gravity-actuated. trigger and bait-holder of novel construction, and a tiltable releasing-pan of novel construction for releasing the trigger, and thus permitting the tilting platform to operate.

The lower con'ipartment, which is desig nated generally by A, preferably is rectangu lar in shape and is provided in its upper end with an elongated entrance-opening 1 and in one of its sides with an exit-door 2, through which the trapped animals can-be removed from the lower compartment A whenit has become filled. The lower compartment A is provided with an angular attaching plate or flange 3, which fits around one corner thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of securing the upper compartment in position, as will hereinafter appear. f

The upper compartment (designated gen A. The preferred means for detachably securing the upper compartment B to the angular flange 3 consists of a plurality of bolts, screws, or similar devices 5. The compartment B is divided longitudinally by means of a vertical partition 6, below the lower end of which is mounted a tilting platform C, which is of suflitient size to close the lower end of the compartment B and form a floor. At its opposite ends the tiltingplatform C is formed with depending ears 10, through which extends a pivot-rod 11, which is suitably mounted in the ends ofthe compartment B. The compartment B is formed at one end thereof with an entranceopening 15, which is located entirely on one side of the partition 6. It will be observed that the partition 6 constitutes means for preventing the animal, which enters through the opening 15, from passing across the pivot-point of the tilting platform 0, which pivot-point of course is parallel with the partition 6, for which reason the animal is confined entirely on one side of the piv0t-point of the tilting platform. On the' side of the partition 6 opposite the em trance-opening 15 the tilting platform C is provided on its upper surface with a counterweight 20, which serves normally to hold the platform in horizontal position, the downward movement of the weighted side of the platform being limited by a ledge 21, formed along one side of thecompartment B at the lower end thereof.

The gravity-actuated trigger and baitholder, which is indicated generally by D, preferablv is. located at the end of the tilting platform 0 opposite the entrance-opening 15." The front wall of the trigger and baitholder D preferably consists ofa piece of sheet metal 25, the side edges of which are bent rearwardly to form flanges 26, which taper from their upper to their lower ends, as

shown. Extending through the upper ends of the tapering flanges 26 is a suspension-rod 27, one end of which is connected with the partition. 6 and the other end with the side wall of the upper compartment B. The trigger and bait-holder is properly spaced IIO upon the suspension-rod 27 by means of sleeves 28, it being understood that the trigger is loosely mounted upon the rod 27, so that. its lower end can swing back and forth. About :ridway of its length the trigger and bait-holder D is provided with an upwardlyextending rear plate 29, which is soldered or otherwise suitably connected to the sheetmetal piece or front plate 25, as shown, the rear plate 29 and front plate 25 serving to form a "ritable bait-box 3t),the frontplate 25 of which is fora ed adjacent its 1:])])01tf1(l\\'lfl1 a *)lnralit v of perforations 31, through which the bait in the bait-box 30 can be detected by the ani al. The upper end of the baitbox 30 preferably is open, as shown, and is disposed close to the upper end of the coil;- partzrent B the t'pper end of the rear plate- 29 terminatingin a lower plane than the hpperend of the front plate 25, so that it will not strike against the top of the compartment B when the trigger and bait-holder is swung i'ear\\'ardl v. For convenience in placing the bait in the bait-holder I) the top 35 of the cozrpart Went B is pivotally n otznted at 36, so that it can be swung in a horizontal direction am the co:- partirent B to exposethe interior thereof whenever necessary, the swinging top 3:") being locked in closed position in any suitable n anner, srch as by means of the screw 37. It will be under stood that when it is desired to supply bait to the bait-holder and trigger D the screw 37 is removed and. the top swing to open position, as described. At its lower end the gravitv-actuatcd trigger and bait-holder 1) extends through. acat-away portion 40, formed in one corner of the platform C. The front plate of the trigger and bait-holder is formed. with a projection 41, having a horizontal upper end and an inclined lower end, the projection 41 for the sake of economy being stamped out of the sheet metal in the shape of an approximately V-shapcd tooth, which is adapted to engage or fit under the adjacent edge of the tilting platform, so as to hold the saute normally in raised or horizontal position.

The ireans for swinging the trigger and bait-holder l) away from the tilting platform (1 so as to release the saw 0 consists, preferably, of a tiltable releasing-pan i .which consists, preferably, of a sheet-metal plate 4:"), having its side edges formed with upstanding ears -16, which are engaged by a suspension-rod 47. The rear edge of the plate 45 is preferably cut and bent to form an integral dependingarm lb, the rear edge of which is disposed approximately at aZ-right angle with respect. to the upper surface of t the pan. The depending arm 48 rests closely against the front. plate 25 of the gravity-actuatml trigger, and said depending arm is arranged prmatically in a line. with the pivot-point of the releasing-pan 1*], which l consists of the suspension-rod 47. The. releasing-pan E is n aintained normally in a horizontal position by ireans of a counterweight iiO, which consists, preferably, of a piece of wire fora'ed at its rear end with a plurality of closely-arrangeil coils, which serve to give it weight, the forward end or shank of the weight 50 being extended across one edge of the pan E and held thereon by an integral llange 51, which is bent over to engage the shank of the counterweight, thus holding the saire in position in a si 1 ple and inexpensive n anner. As shown in the drawings, the side of the platform C which is adapted to tilt downward is disposed inurediately over the elongated entlance-opening 1. in the'lower compartu-ent A.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the device is in use the anintal will enter through the opening 15 and pass along one side of the platform C, the partition 6 serving to give the animal access to only one side of the platform. then the animal draws near to the. bait.holder, it places its paws upon the releasing-pan E, with the result that the forward edge of said pan is depressed so that the lower end of the depending arm 48 is swung rearwardly, and thus moves the gravity-act uated trigger and bait-holder D away from the tilting platform. The weight of the animal then causes the platform to tilt and precipitate the animal through the elongated opening 1 into the lower compartment A. B," reason of the fact that the partition 6 gives the animal access to only one side of the platform C it will be apparent that said platform can be given considerable length, so that when the platform is released the animal will be so far from the entrance-opening 15 that it will be inipossible for him to escape, it being understood that the platform 0 and releasing-pan E by reason of their metallic construction present only smooth surfaces, which afford no projection to be grasped by the animal in the endeavor to save itself from falling into the lower compartment. I

The reference-numeral 52 indicates an inclined plane or platform up which the animals can pass to the entrance-opening 15.

It will be observed that through the medium of the counterweight 20 the improved trap of this invention is adapted automatically to set itself each time an animal has been precipitated into the lower tamipartment A.

This resetting of the trap is facilitated by-the.

inclined projection 41, over which the adjacent portion of the tilting platform (1 slides as it rises into horizontal position. As soon as the tilting platform (I has reached its true horizontal position thegravity-actuated baitholder causes the projection 4! to move under the platform, so as to hold the same in raised position until said bait-holder is again released by the entrance of an animal. w

The improved trap of this invention is strong, simple, durable, and inexpensive in oonstruetion, as well as thoroughly etlieient.

in operation.

\\ hat; 1s elanred1s l. A trap provided with a tilting platformhavi'ng only one side of it s pivot-point accessihle to an an'intal, a gravity-aetuated trigger and ha1t-holder lor engagutg the tilting plat- 5 form and holding it in raised position, and a releasing-pan lor moving the trigger and bait-holder out of engagement with the t-ilting platform.

.2. A trap provided with a tilt-ing platform. a gravity-artuated trigger and bait-holder engaging the platform, and a pivotallvmounted releasingpan liming a depending arm loeated adjaeent the trigger and haitholder for moving the same out of engage 1 meat with the tilting platform.

3. trap provided with a tilting platform, a trigger and hait-holder formed of sheet metal and having a stampedout projection to engage the tilting platform, and a sheetmetal releasing-pan having its rear edge eut and hent to form a depending arm adapted to l ar agatnst the trigger and halt-holder and move It away from the tilting plat lorm.

4. trap provided with a. tiltingplatform, a trigger and taut-holder engaging the platform, and a releasing-pan eomprisinga sheet metal plate having upstanding ears, a bent flange and an integral depending arm, a sus pension-rod extending through the upstanding ears and constituting the pivot-point of the pan, and a eounterweight consisting of a 1 piece of wire having its rear end Coiled and t its forward end engaged l the hent flange of the releasing-pan.

5. trap provided with a tilting platforn'i,

; a trigger and trait-holder comprising a sheetmetal frontplate having tapering side flanges 1 and heing formed with perforations and a rear plate forming a hait-ho'x, the lower end of said front plate having an integral V- I. shaped projeetion to engage the tilting plat- :t'orm,' a suspension-1nd extending through tiltahle releasing deviee for the trigger-and bait-holder.

. 6. A trap comprising a lower eompartment having an entranee-opening in its upper end and an angular flange, an upper compartment detaehahly secured to the angular extending ltmgitudinalfv ot the upper eompartment, a tilting plat forntmount-ed l: low 5 the partition, an entranee-opening on one side of the partition in one end of the upper compartment, a trigger and haith0ltler pivflange, and having a swinging top. a. partition v the upper ends of the tapering flanges, and 16 otall) mounted at the other end of the eom- 

